The Girl in His Shadow

Harry tells Nora that the surgeons at the hospital know about the operation. Harry told one doctor about it, and word spread. Vickery doesn’t believe that ether works as they say, and he wants a demonstration. Harry opposes the idea and becomes increasingly standoffish.

Ultimately, Croft feels compelled to demonstrate the ether. They invite a few surgeons to dinner, and they plan to drug Croft. However, the surgeons object because Croft is so motivated to prove ether’s effectiveness. He volunteers Nora, and though everyone protests, Nora agrees. Once Nora is unconscious, Croft pokes her arm with a needle to prove that she feels no pain. However, one doctor is unconvinced and jabs the needle into Nora’s gums. When Nora awakens, the astonished doctors congratulate Daniel, but he is too enraged to hear it.

Within the week, word of ether’s effects spreads throughout London. Daniel mentions that his parents are visiting London, and he invites Croft and Nora to join them all for dinner. Afterward, Daniel would like everyone to attend a mesmerism show, as his mother is fascinated by the subject; he suggests that it will allow them to compare the effects of hypnosis to the effects of ether.

The next night, during the show’s intermission, Daniel brings up the similarities between mesmerism and ether, noting that they don’t know if hypnosis can also erase “physical sensation.” His mother recoils from this subject due to the “mixed company” of men and women. At dinner, Mrs. Gibson made her disapproval of Nora clear, and she now disapproves of the show as well. She suggests that a hypnotist could order a lady to do something improper, and she feels that it is wrong for a lady to give someone such power over her. When Nora suggests that the trance could be useful, such as in childbirth, Mrs. Gibson blanches at the mention of this subject as well, calling Nora’s upbringing “eccentric.” Nora tries to placate Mrs. Gibson, but when the woman suggests that Nora received no education, Nora explains that Croft never denies her opportunities to learn and says, “Perhaps you don’t care to discuss these topics because a lady’s traditional education is so limited” (253). Offended, Mrs. Gibson calls Nora a “guttersnipe,” prompting Croft to defend her and declare that Nora is, in fact, his sole heir, who will inherit a “handsome independence” from him. Nora is so uncomfortable that she asks to return home.

Croft accompanies her while Daniel remains with his parents. Nora realizes that she should be happy to learn that she will inherit Croft’s fortune, but she cannot forget the shocked look on Daniel’s face upon hearing Croft’s announcement. Walking home later, Daniel is impressed with Nora’s ability to endure his parents’ rudeness. He tries to think of how to apologize to her, but he feels that he cannot tell Nora that he loves her because of the timing of Croft’s revelation. He fears that everyone will assume him to be influenced by the knowledge of her eventual inheritance. Arriving home, Daniel finds that Nora has already gone to bed, but Croft asks what Daniel would have said to her. Daniel explains that he cannot declare his “intentions” to Nora on the heels of Croft’s announcement. Croft advises him to make it clear to Nora that he does not share his parents’ opinions.

Mrs. Phipps wakes Nora, and she recalls Daniel’s “unreadable and unpleasant” (259) expression after Croft’s announcement. Mrs. Phipps says that Daniel is in a “fog” of embarrassment, and Nora decides to stay in her room until he leaves. Daniel dawdles, hoping to see her, but Croft reminds him that they must get to St. Bart’s because Daniel has been invited to return. Vickery glares at them, and when he hands them the newspaper, his horrible smile alarms them. They find an article that names the “disgraced” Daniel and describes Vickery’s belief that Daniel and Croft are deceiving the medical community. Vickery has called for a public meeting so that Croft and Daniel must defend their claims about Prescott’s surgery and the use of ether. Croft anticipates humbling Vickery, but Daniel is worried.

The next morning, Nora reassures Daniel, though he still feels ashamed of his parents. They also discuss the public meeting, though Daniel worries that “time will cloud [her] memories and [she] will somehow remember [him] as the man who stole [her] work instead of the man trying to shield [her]” (265). Daniel calls her a “wonderful mystery,” and they kiss. When Nora takes Croft’s forgotten lunch to the hospital, she hears Vickery yelling at Harry, who later tells her that it would be better for everyone if he does not join them at the meeting. Nora argues that everyone expects to hear from him. She invites him to dinner, but he says he is busy.

There is a large crowd at the meeting, and Daniel fears that Harry won’t come. Harry approached Daniel yesterday, claiming that he could get tripped up by a question about the surgery, but Daniel insisted that he needs Harry to be there. Croft must retrieve Harry from his lodgings, but when they arrive, Harry objects to being involved. Nora is in the crowd with Prescott.

Vickery looks smug, and Harry will not make eye contact with Nora. Daniel speaks calmly, but Vickery’s questions are challenging. Prescott defends Daniel’s choice to operate, saying that he would have died without intervention. He accidentally mentions Nora but quickly explains that it was she who answered the door. Vickery asks to confirm the date, which Daniel does, and Vickery responds that he has proof that Daniel was, in fact, alone that night at the clinic and that all his claims are lies. Quietly, Harry confesses that he was not there, and Vickery contends that there was no witness to this surgery after all. Nora knows that Vickery will ruin Croft and Daniel both if she doesn’t speak. She stands and declares that the surgery happened as Daniel says, that she assisted him and witnessed everything.

The crowd goes silent. Croft objects, and Vickery accuses him of using Nora as a test subject. Nora reminds Vickery that he wanted a witness, and she is that witness. Croft explains that Nora helps him with experiments, and Vickery condemns Croft’s choice to employ a girl. Nora claims that she simply held clamps and passed tools during the operation, arguing that she couldn’t let Prescott die just because her presence was unconventional. Vickery accuses her of practicing medicine without a license and cites the risk to public health, but Croft reminds him that Prescott is alive because of her. She says necessity compelled her to help, despite her inexperience and the surgery’s risks. In explaining the procedure, however, she provides more detail than an assistant would know, and Vickery suggests that any ladies in attendance should consider leaving to protect their modesty. No one does, and when Vickery points out that Nora was present while Prescott was unclothed, two ladies “[pretend] to faint” (288). Prescott offers to show the scar, which is a good six inches from his “dignity,” and Nora argues that feminine modesty was less important than saving Prescott’s life. She also confesses that the ether was her idea and accuses Vickery of envying Daniel’s courage.

Daniel is in shock. Croft is silent, and the audience eyes Nora as though she were on trial. Daniel reminds the crowd that the surgery was successful. He admits he was wrong to ask Harry to lie, though he only wanted to protect Nora. When Vickery suggests that Daniel thinks only of his career, Harry tries to defend Daniel. An irate Vickery threatens to “enlighten” the crowd as to how he knows that Harry was not present for the surgery that night. Daniel interrupts, insisting on Nora’s skill and her “native intelligence.” However, when Nora says “intuition” guided her decision to wait before resecting Prescott’s bowel, this is criticized as a “feminine answer.” Finally, one surgeon argues that there is evidence to suggest that the surgery did happen as described, though without Harry, and that they should adjourn. A well-dressed man approaches the stage, appealing to Nora in English and Italian, but Daniel rushes her away from the scene.